Kenosha Public Museum facts for kids
| A Natural Sciences and Fine and Decorative Arts Museum | |
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Kenosha Public Museum in 2022
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| Established | 1936 |
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| Location | 5500 1st Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| Type | Natural sciences, Fine arts, Decorative arts |
| Collection size | 80,000 (1,200 fine art pieces) |
| Public transit access | Kenosha Streetcar |
The Kenosha Public Museum is a cool place in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It shows off amazing collections of art and natural science. The museum first opened its doors in 1936. Today, you can find it right by Kenosha's beautiful lakefront. Besides its awesome displays, the museum also has lots of fun classes, new exhibits, workshops, and special events all year long.
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Discovering Museum Collections
The Kenosha Public Museum has many interesting things to see. One of its main exhibits is called "The Wisconsin Story." This exhibit tells about the history of Wisconsin.
Meet the Mammoths
A big part of "The Wisconsin Story" is about giant, ancient elephants called mammoths. You can see the real bones of the Schaefer mammoth here. There's also a copy of the Hebior mammoth. The museum has two other mammoths from Mud Lake and the Fenske site.
These mammoths are super important! The Schaefer and Hebior mammoths show the earliest known time when humans and mammoths met. Experts from all over Wisconsin dug up these bones between 1992 and 1994. The real Hebior mammoth bones are at another museum. But friends of the Kenosha Public Museum helped get a copy for everyone to see.
Wisconsin's Past: People and Villages
"The Wisconsin Story" also teaches about Native Americans who lived in Wisconsin long ago. It shows how Europeans came to the area. You can even see what a Potawatomi village looked like during all four seasons.
Art and Special Shows
The museum has special rooms called galleries. These galleries often show different kinds of art. You might see art made by famous artists or by talented local artists.
Sometimes, certain parts of the museum have temporary exhibits. These are shows that change over time. Past exhibits have included art by Rembrandt, Inuit art from the Arctic, or traveling shows about things like "Sustainable Shelter."
Museum History: From Post Office to Museum
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The Kenosha Public Museum has an interesting past. It wasn't always in its current building.
The First Home
The museum first started in a building that used to be the city's Post Office. This building was finished around 1908 to 1910. It had a special design called Beaux-Arts architecture. It was located on 56th Street and Eighth Avenue.
A Big Move
In 1933, something amazing happened. The entire building was moved! It traveled slowly, one foot at a time, across the street. It ended up at its new spot on 5608 10th Avenue. Once the new Post Office was ready, this old building became the Kenosha Public Museum.
A New Modern Building
In 2001, the museum moved again to a brand new building. This building is very large, about 45,000 square feet. Its design looks like the glaciers that shaped the land around Kenosha.
The Kenosha Public Museum is part of a group of museums in Kenosha. This group also includes the Dinosaur Discovery Museum and the Civil War Museum. All these museums are recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. They are also certified as "Travel Green Wisconsin" places. Plus, they are connected to the Smithsonian Affiliations program.
